Australian Businesses Plan to Bolster Remote Collaboration as They Look Towards a Hybrid Work Future

52% of Respondents Report an Increased Spend on Collaboration, Communication and Productivity Technologies in the Next Year

4 May 2021, SYDNEY -- Smartsheet (NYSE:SMAR), the enterprise platform for dynamic work, revealed today that Australian businesses are concerned about productivity and burn-out for those working remotely, but plan on using technology to improve collaboration among teams. According to research* produced in collaboration with 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, one-half of Australian businesses (49%) are concerned about lower productivity for those not in the office and 46% are worried about work/life balance difficulties.

While many businesses have returned to the office to some degree, a large proportion of the Australian workforce still works remotely. As of February, two in five people with a job worked from home at least one day a week, compared with 24% the same time last year. According to Smartsheet research, the vast majority (79%) surveyed believe greater collaboration is needed to effectively adjust to changes over the coming years.

The report found that businesses plan to improve their technology by enabling collaboration across teams. Over half (52%) of Australian businesses surveyed say they’ll increase spending on collaboration, communication and productivity technologies this year, with 47% planning to increase spend on tools like video conferencing and messaging. More than two-fifths (44%) want to invest in project and work management tools.

Australians are conscious of overloading employees with too many tools, however. More than one-third (37%) say rationalising technology investments - including reducing the range of technologies - will be strategically important over the coming year. This is compared to 28% who want to better integrate applications into workflows. 

“The past year has changed the way many businesses work, forcing them to collaborate in new ways and use technology to connect teams more. In Australia, businesses are returning to the office and often adopting a hybrid model that needs the right approach and leadership to be successful,” says Nigel Mendonca, Vice President, Asia Pacific at Smartsheet.

While Australian businesses believe technology will aid collaboration, it’s no substitute for strong leadership. Two in five (40%) believe the strategic vision and guidance from company leadership needs to change significantly in the coming year to face disruptions, while a further 42% say this needs at least some change. Over one-third (35%) would like clearer strategic direction for their department to navigate the new business landscape.

“The approach to technology should be people-first and centred on the human experience. This is how you empower dynamic work - rather than overwhelming employees with more applications they struggle to use,” continued Mendonca. “The changes resulting from the pandemic have brought to the surface long-needed shifts and will hopefully result in greater autonomy and effective workplaces - whether online or offline - for many Australians.”

You can access the full “Get Ahead of Change by Empowering Employees with New Operational Cultures and Tooling Strategies” report here.

*Survey methodology

The survey was conducted by 451 Research among a sample of 400 U.S. workers at enterprise companies with 1,500+ full time employees and three or more office locations, 200 U.K. workers at companies with 1,000+ full time employees and three or more office locations, 200 German workers at companies with 1,000+ full time employees and three or more office locations, and 200 workers from Australia and New Zealand at companies with 500+ full time employees and two or more office locations. It was live from September 23 to October 8, 2020.

About Smartsheet

Smartsheet (NYSE: SMAR) is the enterprise platform for dynamic work. By aligning people and technology so organizations can move faster and drive innovation, Smartsheet enables its millions of users to achieve more. Visit www.smartsheet.com to learn more.

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